Taking phentermine. Feeling tired. Stools very dark. What to do?

I have been taking phentermine 37.5 mg for 12 days and I havent lost 1 pound also I feel tired but jittery if that makes any sense and my stools are very very dark.........am I taking this medicine the wrong way? why does it not seem to be working

Phentermine can be taken as 15 mg to 37.5mg a day. It works to suppress the appetite.In some cases if it is found that the appetite suppression is not sufficient , the daily dose may have to be split for wider coverage.

This medication , as mentioned earlier, works to decrease appetite and improve fullness but it has to be combined with dietary changes for it to be effective.In addition there are other factors that may make it difficult for you to lose weight for example zoloft.Some SSRI, such as zoloft cause weight gain and it is thought that they may influence a person's appetite or deactivate centers in the brain that recognize fullness.

It is possible that there may an interaction between the two. There are some antidepressants that either do not affect weight or decrease weight such as fluoxetine (prozac) or bupropion.You can discuss these options with your doctor.You may also want to discuss any over the counter medications such as anti histamines that can also affect weight loss.

In addition, dietary changes may help with the weight loss.There are two main options low fat/low calorie and low carbohydrate.

ok, I was told I could get off zoloft if I wanted, and maybe its time I have already changed my eating habits and excersize, do you think it will work better if I do?

Also, what about the wierd side effects?

Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James 6 hours later

answer Id 223435; conversation id 227670

Brief Answer:It might help

Detailed Answer:HI

It is possible that discontinuing the zoloft would help but this should be done with your doctor.As I mentioned , some anti depressants are actually helpful for weight loss. Some of the new weight loss drugs that have recently been approved and some awaiting approval contain anti depressants (specifically fluoxetine and bupropion).

It can definitely cause a jittery sensation because of its stimulant effect but is not known to cause fatigue or tiredness.It is possible that any increased activity due to the jittery feeling could possibly eventually result in fatigue but it is not a documented common problem. It is important to remember that everyone reacts differently to medication.

In terms of the stool colour- this medication can have gastrointestinal side effects such as constipation or even diarrhoea , some persons report blood in the stool as well

Blood may appear either bright red or it can darken the stool if it comes from high in the gastrointestinal tract.